Accessibility

In this article

"[T]he impact of disability is radically changed on the Web because the Web removes barriers to communication and interaction that many people face in the physical world." (W3C - Accessibility)

The World Health Organization defines disability as "a mismatch in interaction between the features of a person’s body and the features of the environment in which they live." Disabilities can range from situational disabilities, like limited mobility while holding a baby or bright sunlight on a phone, to other physical, auditory, visual, or age-related impairments.

Designing websites and other technologies for inclusion creates an experience enjoyable by every person. Inclusive design and web accessibility empowers and assists everyone to use the web.

Here are some best practices, code samples, and further resources for you to learn more about Designing, Building, and Testing accessible websites in Microsoft Edge.

Accessibility in Microsoft Edge

In Microsoft Edge, we transitioned from the Microsoft Active Accessibility (MSAA) API to the more modern UI Automation (UIA) API, alongside enormous complementary investments in rearchitecting our DOM implementation and rewriting the browser interface from scratch. The change to UIA was a major investment in browser accessibility, and it lays the foundation for a more inclusive web experience for users who depend on assistive technology in Windows 10. Because EdgeHTML helps to power the Universal Windows Apps platform of Windows 10, these benefits will have an impact beyond the browser. Users will also benefit from the evergreen nature of the EdgeHTML engine.

The new accessibility system in Microsoft Edge inherently supports modern web standards including ARIA, HTML5, and CSS3. The following diagram of the simplified browser pipeline follows webpage content into an accessible presentation later:

The Microsoft Edge team works with the W3C and other browser vendors on an ongoing basis to ensure that new web platform features have sufficient built-in accessibility. For more information on new accessibility features in Microsoft Edge, see New in Microsoft Edge.